Casual carpooling is a grassroots travel option, driven by supply and demand, to commute from the East Bay to downtown San Francisco.
On weekday mornings, people line up as either drivers or passengers at locations in the East Bay. These locations were established through word-of-mouth and experience over decades. Casual carpooling allows cars with three or more people going westbound on the Bay Bridge in the morning to take advantage of the high occupancy vehicle lanes, save time at the toll plaza and get the double bonus of a reduced bridge toll.
Before the COVID pandemic began, more than 20 casual carpool pick-up locations shown on the 511 Interactive Map were well used by commuters. Many of the locations are adjacent to AC Transit stops, BART stations, or Bay Wheels stations so that riders have a back-up option if drivers do not arrive to pick up passengers.
To read more about casual carpool's status visit Berkeleyside. You can also participate in a casual carpool survey available through The Bay Link.
The information provided on this site is subject to the 511 Terms of Use.
View Casual Carpool Location on the Interactive Map
Search Pickup Locations
Showing 10 of 27 | Show All
-
Evening Casual Carpool Pick Up
Beale Street, West side, between Howard & Folsom
San FranciscoAddress:
239-201 Spear Street
San Francisco, CA 94105 -
Morning Casual Carpool Drop Off
South side of Howard St. b/w First & Fremont
San FranciscoAddress:
Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105 -
Encinal Ave & Park Ave
On Park Ave Northwest corner of Encinal and Park Ave. Cars line up pointed towards Encinal
Alameda - East AlamedaAddress:
1301 Park Avenue
Alameda, CA 94501 -
Webster St & Santa Clara Ave
On Santa Clara on the Northeast corner of Webster St. and Santa Clara Ave. (Bus stop)
Alameda - West AlamedaAddress:
1453 Webster Street
Alameda, CA 94501 -
Buchanan & I-80
The casual carpool pick-up area is located inside the parking lot to the left of the parking lot entrance of the lot.
AlbanyAddress:
Buchanan St
Albany, CA 94706 -
North Berkeley BART
On Sacramento, east of the entrance to the BART station. Rides to Civic Center as well as Downtown San Francisco: Drivers/riders going to Civic Center meet south of the newspaper racks. Downtown-bound cars pull up to, but not past, the newspaper racks. Civic Center drop-off is usually around 9th and Market, but drivers often volunteer to take riders further (north of Market) if they're going that way.
BerkeleyAddress:
1700 Sacramento Street
Berkeley, CA 94702 -
Del Norte BART
On Eastshore, just south of Orchard Supply Hardware. Do not park in the Orchard parking lot. You will be ticketed/towed.
El CerritoAddress:
1664 Eastshore Boulevard
El Cerrito, CA 94530 -
Christie Ave & 64th St
In front of the Pacific Park Plaza tower/condos
EmeryvilleAddress:
6403 Christie Ave.
Emeryville, CA 94608 -
Marina
Powell St. between Admiral and Commodore
EmeryvilleAddress:
3101 Powell Street
Emeryville, CA 94608 -
Fairfield Transportation Center
Corner of Cadenasso Dr. and Magellan (south of I-80 W. Texas St. exit)
FairfieldAddress:
Magellan Rd
Fairfield, CA 94533
